Shuttle body and clamping spring construction



Jan. 19, 1965 E. FoRsTER SHUTTLE Booy AND CLAMPTNG SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26. 1962 .Tlmwux United States Patent O i s claims. (ci. 139-207 This invention relates in gener-al to weaving shuttle thread carrier construction, and in particular to -a new and useful weft thread carrier shuttle body and clamping spring larrangement permitting easy adjustment for alignment of a clamping spring therefor.

The present invention is an improvement over prior art constructions of shuttle bodies Vand spring holders for the weft carrier therein, particularly in respect to the means for positioning a spring clamp for the weft carrier easily within the shuttle body and for permitting adjustment thereof. In known automatic operating shuttles the clamping spring for the weft thread carrier is secured by means of a screw which penetrates the shuttle body in a direction from one side of the body to the other. The bridge around the spring is fixed by means of a screw which extends perpendicular or Vertical to the bottom of the shuttle. The head of a clamping spring rests in the shuttle body in a recess which is open upwardly and which corresponds to the form of the head of the spring. In orde-r that the Ioperation ofthe shuttle be smooth and that exact alignment of the weft thread carrier with the longitudinal axis of the shuttle be maintained, it must be possible to adjust or-align the clamping spring Iafter it has been secured in the shuttle body. Due to the dilerences of production tolerances of spring and shuttle body, suchad-l justment or .alignment is always required.` n practice, however, this adjustment is-etected by bending an iron member and this is very time consuming and also has disadvantageous eiects onrthe clamping body and the clamping spring. Frequently because of the manipulation of the bending iron, small scratches or cuts are formed in the legs ofthe clamping spring which cause subsequent breakage and machine damage. In addition, it is necessary to secure the weft thread carrier which is exactly `aligned in its position, so that during the weavingV procedure lor during exchange of the weft thread carrier, no undesired change of position can occur.

A further disadvantage in prior art machines is that there is a lplay between the clamping spring and the shuttle body caused by the deformation or bending of the receiving space for the clamping spring and the spring head in the shuttle body. Frequently, the constant widening of the clamping spring head during exchange of the weft thread carrier causes a 'Widening of the seat of the clamping spring head in-the shuttle. v

In accordance with the present-invention there is provided a shuttle body construction and arrangement which includes -a vertically elongated cylindrical recess opening outwardly on `one end to a widened interior area arranged for receiving the weft4 thread carrier. The cylindric-al recess carries yan intermediate piece or wedging member which is knurled on its exterior surface for friction fitting Within the shuttle body cylindrical recess. The central part lof the intermediate piece is slotted and receives the head of a spring which extends into the widened area of the shuttle and holds the weft carrier between the ends thereof. A bridge member extends between the legs .of the spring and over the ends of projections formed on thel intermediate piece. The `spring and the intermediate piece are secured in position by means of a screw element which extends from side to side of the shuttle and may be adjustably tightened thereat.

3,166,101 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 lCC The invention provides a securing means for the clamping spring which insures that the spring is held in position wit-hin the shuttle body without damage to the shuttle body and prevents any play of the associ-ated parts but permits the adjustment or aligning of the clamping spring in a simple manner and in a more exact arrangement than was possible heretofore. The construction is such that no vertical extending screws are lacquired which may cause disturbances or become loose duringV operation of the shuttle. When the clamping spring is mounted Within the shuttle body -of the present invention, it may be aligned i by a moderate tightening of the securing screw Without any diliiculty and by further tightening the spring may be clamped lin an exact position.

In one aspect of :the invention the clamping spring, the intermediate piece, and the bridge may be constructed as a single structural unit by `forming both ends of the jaw of the intermediate piece with projections and correspondingly shaping the holding plate 'at the ends of the legs .of the bridge. Such a construction permits the easy insertion of the device into the shuttle body and insures a more exact alignment or yadjustment of the lbridge and the constant position ci' the bridge during the operation of the device. Y

The head yof the clamping spring, which in prior art devices had to be guided in a long recess defined inthe shuttle body, is shortened -in -accordance with the present invention,`whereby it is possible to extend or lengthen the spring zone Iof the clamping legs in a significant manner.

Accordingly, it is .an object of this invention to provide an improved shuttle body construction and weft carrier clamping spring arrangement.

A further :object of the invention is tojprovide a securing arrangement for the clamping spring of a weft thread carrier in an automatically operating Weaving shuttle.

A further object `of the invention is to provide a securing means for the clamping spring of a weft carrier which -includes a cylindrical bore deined in the shuttle body having a vertical axis with the side thereof opening outwardly into a recess for carrying the legs of the spring Varound the weft carrier, with a .cylindrical intermittent invention are pointed out with particularity in the claimsV annexed to `and forming a part of this speciiication. vFor a better understanding ofthe invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference v should berhad to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described Referring to the drawings in particular, the inventionV embodied therein includes a shuttle body l with only the forward end indicated, but which includes, in accordance'with the invention, an enlarged substantially U- shaped or elliptical recess 3 in which is received a weft thread carrier 2. The carrier includes annular beads 5 which are positioned within annular` grooves 5 formed on the inner faces of legs 6 and '7 of a clamping spring generally designated'S. The clamping spring 8 includes a flattened U-shaped head portion 9 whichis joined to the widened leg portions 6 and '7. The end of the head 9 is located in a cylindrical recess portion 17 yformed in the shuttle body' and includes a transverse bore 1t)k through which extends a screw 11 and is connected to recess 3 through a neck portion 16. As shown in FIG. 2,

neck portion 16 comprises a recessed area having straight side walls and isV of a diameter less than the diameter of cylindrical recess portion 17. By means of the screw 11 the head 9 and a wedge element orprojection 12 of the weft thread carrier 2 are secured within the shuttle body 1.

The enlargement or cylindrical `recess 17 receives a cylindrical intermediate piece 18 which is indicated in detail in FIG. 4. The intermediate piece has a vertically elongated slot or central recess 19 disposed between encircling jaw portions 2t) and 21 and a rear web portion 22. A bore 23 defined inthe intermediate piece permits the passage of the securing screw 11. The intermediate piece 1S is also provided withprojections 24 and 25 at upper and lower ends of the jaws 2t) and 21. The outer portion of the intermediate piece is provided with a knurling 26V to insure that it is rictionally heldy in the recess 17 of the shuttle body when it is positioned therein. TheV shuttle body 1 includes an intermediate straight recess 16 which connects into recess 17 at one end and opens into recess 3 at the opposite end.

A bridge element of U-shaped configuration generally designated 13 and indicated in detail in FIG. 5 includes a widened base portion 13a which is disposed Within the recess 3 at a location below the securing spring 6. The bridge element 13 also includes spaced horizontal leg portions14 and 15 interconnectedby an oblique element or base 13b as well as the at widened base portion 13a. The' tions 24vand 25, respectively, of the intermediate piece 18. The arms 14' and 15 of thevbridged element are sprungoutwardly to engage each end of the intermediate piece 15. Once vthe bridge element 13 is engaged over the projections 24l and 2S of the intermediate piece'lS,

it is obvious that axial displacement of the bridgek ele` Vment 13 cannot take place.

The arms 14 and 15 .of

the bridging element 13 are prevented from being displaced outwardly by their residency.

Whilel specific embodimentsy of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the applicationV of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise .without departing Y from such principles. Y

What is claimed is: 1. 'Securing means for the clamping spring holding a weft thread carrier in a shuttle, comprising a shuttle body` having a cylindrical recess with an axis substantially vertical to the bottom of said shuttle body, and an elongated recess including a Yneck portion Vof a lesser dimension than said cylindrical recess dened in said shuttle in comy munication with the side of said cylindrical recess and being large enough for accommodating an end of a clamping spring and the weft thread carrier, a substantially cylindrical intermediate piece larger than the elongated recess so that it cannot pass therethrough and positioned in the cylindrical recess of the shuttle body, said piece having a slot dened through the center thereof extending outwardly to one side into communication and alignment with the elongated recess to accommodate said clamping spring means for engaging, said clamping spring over each end'of said intermediate piece, said intermediate piece'including a bore defined therethrough, and a clamping spring securing screw extending through th Y .bore of said intermediate piece.

nected to the opposite end ofthe straight recess portion,

a cylindrical intermediate piece positioned in said cylindrical portion of said recess and havingra slot extending substantially therethrough and from top to bottom thereof, and a' spring memberhaving a U-shaped head l'portion disposed within the slot ofsaid intermediate piecel and extending through said straight recess portion and having widened leg portions extending into said elliptical portion of said recess,'and a U-shaped bridgevmember having a connecting base portion extending between the widened leg portions of said 'spring member in said widened recess portion and having leg portions extend- 29 and 30 toengage over correspondingly shaped 'projecing over respective sides of said spring member and con-v nected at said intermediate piece. Y

V3. A securing means according to claim 2, wherein `said leg portions of said bridge member have recesses formed therein, said intermediate piece having projections extending into the recesses of Vsaid'bridge member. Y

4. A securing means according to claim 2, including a securing screw extending throughrsaidbody and said intermediate piece and said spring member, and a threaded nutl member threadably engagingrsaid screw for tighten? ing Ysaid securing screw on each side of said shuttle body.

5. A securing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said spring member includes a pluralityof annular recesses to mount a weft carrier having a plurality of annular beads fitted into corresponding annular recesses of Vsaid spring.l

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED VSI`A'l`FLS PATENTS `DONALD w. PARKEafPrimary Examiner.

' RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

1. SECURING MEANS FOR THE CLAMPING SPRING HOLDING A WEFT THREAD CARRIER IN A SHUTTLE, COMPRISING A SHUTTLE BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL RECESS WITH AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID SHUTTLE BODY, AND AN ELONGATED RECESS INCLUDING A NECK PORTION OF A LESSER DIMENSION THAN SAID CYLINDRICAL RECESS DEFINED IN SAID SHUTTLE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SIDE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL RECESS AND BEING LARGE ENOUGH FOR ACCOMMODATING AN END OF A CLAMPING SPRING AND THE WEFT THREAD CARRIER, A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL INTERMEDIATE PIECE LARGER THAN THE ELONGATED RECESS SO THAT IT CANNOT PASS THERETHROUGH AND POSITIONED IN THE CYLINDRICAL RECESS OF THE SHUTTLE BODY, SAID PIECE HAVING A SLOT DEFINED THROUGH THE CENTER THEREOF EXTENDING OUTWARDLY TO ONE SIDE INTO COMMUNICATION AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE ELONGATED RECESS TO ACCOMMODATE SAID CLAMPING SPRING MEANS FOR ENGAGING, SAID CLAMPING SPRING OVER EACH END OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PIECE, SAID INTERMEDIATE PIECE INCLUDING A BORE DEFINED THERETHROUGH, AND A CLAMPING SPRING SECURING SCREW EXTENDING THROUGH THE BORE OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PIECE. 